ASSOCIATE, THE

SYNOPSIS:
Financial analyst Laurel Ayres (Whoopi Goldberg) is intelligent,
sharp-witted and talented in matters of money. She seems to have
all the right elements for climbing the Wall Street corporate
ladder. But when overlooked for a deserved promotion, she
realises that itís a manís world in the money jungle.
So she comes up with a risky plan with the help of her secretary
Sally (Dianne Wiest), fabricating the persona of Robert S. Cutty,
who is a figment of her imagination. Laurelís sound business
savvy pays off and Cutty becomes an much sought after success.
When it becomes unavoidable, Laurelís make-up artist/drag
queen friend helps her disguises herself as the elusive Cutty,
who is 60 years old and white! Laurelís underhanded rival
Frank (Tim Daly) realises that Laurel is really Cutty and digs
deeper in his bag of dirty tricks to use the situation for his
own gain.

Louise Keller:"After watching the very talented Whoopi Goldberg in
recent films with disappointing scripts, itís good to see
this fine performer with better material - along the lines of her
previous successes, Jumping Jack Flash and Burglar. The premise,
of course is over the top. But with consummate performers like
Goldberg and Dianne Wiest, itís not always what, but how.
The way these two pros create movie magic in their scenes
together is totally uplifting. The best part about Goldberg is
watching her Ďthink aloudí when concocting some wild
scheme as part of the script. Her timing is so good and she does
it so effectively, that it is sheer joy. Wiest is rock solid: She
brings depth and such an understated sense of comedy. The script
is sharp and witty. When asked by the bank what are her assets,
Goldberg replies "Drive, courage and ambition." And
indeed she sets out to show these assets in every way. The
character device using a make-up artist/drag queen - who earns
his living impersonating famous movie stars such as Barbra
Streisand and Cher - is not dissimilar to that used in Mrs
Doubtfire, and gives an additional twist to the eventual much
anticipated appearance of Robert Cutty; the fact that Cutty looks
just like Marlon Brando is just mind-boggling. And Pendleton is
terrific, as is the rest of the cast. Watch out for the scene
where Goldberg (as Cutty) is confronted in his hotel suite by the
seductive Camille (Bebe Neuwirth): it is sheer slapstick as Cutty
and Neuwirth cavort on the settee. But apart from the froth and
giggle (and there is much of that), there are some deeper and
more meaningful issues: womenís equality and recognising
people for their true talents. Whoopee - Whoopi is back!"